Through the Semliki Valley 197 
endeavours to incite a peaceful people to disobedience, they de¬ 
prive the country of a considerable number of carriers and 
labourers. 
A broad caravan road connects Beni with the Mawambi 
station, on the Aruwimi, and opens into the Irumu-Stanleyville 
highway (on the Congo). This direct communication with the 
greatest waterway of Central Africa lends considerable import¬ 
ance to the settlements. The commercial traffic is extremely 
limited here, as is the case all over th^ Congo State, on account 
of the difficult conditions prevailing. Naturally, many traders, 
mainly Indians, take advantage of the neighbouring forest, with 
its immense tracts and inadequate control, for smuggling 
purposes. 
Beni is strongly garrisoned. During our visit the soldiers 
were most zealously drilled. At six o’clock in the morning the 
signal for parade resounded in the quiet air. Not only did the 
company itself respond to the call for daily duty, but also all 
the male and female hands on the station, about two hundred in 
number. Whilst the troops started their duties, the Chef de paste 
allotted to the labourers their daily tasks. Strict discipline was 
exercised at the muster. The presence of every individual was 
carefully checked when his name was called. Absence without 
excuse was punished, but this occurred very seldom. At eight 
o’clock the soldiers rested, whilst the Europeans assembled for 
breakfast. This meal was suited to African conditions, and 
consisted of coffee or tea, bread and butter, cold meat, fruit 
and cheese. 
After breakfast was over, the military exercises, which I often 
attended, were continued till about 11 o’clock, when there was a 
noon-time interval. At i o’clock dinner was announced by two 
calls, and an hour later the signal for the afternoon muster was 
sounded, when the troops and the whole of the workers resumed 
duty. The afternoon’s work finished at 4 o’clock. Very often 
there was a third muster in the evening, at which the people 
turned up in any rig they fancied, but generally with the charac¬ 
teristic Congo straw hat on their heads. Clothes, shoes, etc., 
